Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Leather conjures up all kinds of images
for each individual. Deciding to buy leather furniture may be a statement that you've
"arrived" and desire a luxurious, sophisticated, even an aristocratic
ambiance to your home. While the images of leather lean toward a more upscale
buyer, finding affordable leather furniture is possible. Once the decision to
purchase leather furniture has been made, it's time to answer these questions:
what are the advantages of leather, what really is leather, what to look for,
and what to buy? Follow the tips of a buying guide to leather and ease your way
to long lasting comfort that ages with graceful elegance.

Leather Basics:
Leather is a by product of the beef industry and puts to excellent use hides
that may otherwise go to waste. Through an ancient process called tanning, the
hides are transformed into soft supple leather. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary
describes the art of tanning best; "tan - to convert (hide) into leather
by treatment with an infusion of tannin-rich bark or other agent of similar
affect." Now that a simple explanation of the leather process has been
explained let's move on to the different types of leather available.

In the world of leather, not all leathers are
created equal. While some retain the natural markings and variations that speak
to so many people, some leathers are rendered through various methods which
remove the grain and any unique characteristics giving the overall appearance
of sameness. Before stepping into a furniture gallery to locate the leather
furniture that fits your décor, learn a bit about the various grades and types
of leather.

Full Grain
The most desirable leather, full grain, remains natural. The markings from bug
bites, a scar from a barb wire fence, or the tiny wrinkles that occur on skin
are evident. These marks of living give unique characteristics to the hide. A
palpable texture to the grain offers another pleasant reason to prefer full
grain leather for furniture.

Top GrainIf the label "top grain" is
on a tag or mentioned by a sales person, the reference is to where the leather
was cut rather than the grade. Do not confuse full grain, which speaks to the
characteristics of the leather with top grain, which simply means it has not
been split. While searching make sure cushions, backs and large areas were cut
from the top grain and not from split or vinyl added fabrics.

Aniline
Aniline dyed leather comes with various names depending on the manufacturer or
the furniture company. You may come across names like premium aniline, naked
aniline, aniline full grain, or true aniline, they're all the same. Aniline is
leather that has been dyed all the way through. A soft, pliable texture
caresses the hand as it runs over full grain aniline leather. The porous nature
of aniline leather allows it to breathe which in turn makes it that much more
durable. A rule of thumb to keep in mind when buying leather furniture: the
softer the leather the higher grade it is and expect to pay a higher price.

AntiquedWhile searching for the best leather
furniture that suits unique needs and desires you may come across the word
antiqued in relationship to leather. Antiqued leather has been dyed twice,
first in a light color and then a darker one to give variation and an added
dimension of age. This process is also called distressed leather.

NuBuck
By buffing the outer side of the hide, strong durable leather called NuBuck is
created. Velvety to the touch, NuBuck differs from suede because the outside is
processed rather than the inside.

Pigmented or Painted
Leather Furniture with a uniform appearance that lacks the individual
characteristics of full grain leather, called pigmented or painted, tends to be
the leather most often used in the furniture industry. Sealing with a finishing
agent makes it less breathable which lessens the durability with an end result
of less expense when buying leather furniture.

Homework or what to consider before leaving home:
By answering a few questions, you'll have a good idea of what you're looking
for before ever leaving home for the shopping adventure

1.Location, location, location. What room will the
leather furniture set your buying go into? Is it for the living room, the den,
a family room? Leather does have a tendency to fade in the sun so be aware of
placement.

2.How many people live in your home? Do you have
children? Pets?

3.How do you sit on a sofa or chair? Do you sit
"in" it or "on" it? If you sit in it you prefer to nestle
down into the cushions and back; if you set on it you sit more upright with
feet touching the floor.

4.How much money are you planning to spend when
buying leather furniture? It's a good idea to have a budget in mind.

5.What is the size of the room? This is the time to
measure and plan the location of the leather furniture. The size relationship
of the leather furniture to the room plays an important part in how well the
room will look.

6.Spend some time online looking at leather
furniture and the features various companies offer.

The Advantages of Buying Leather
Furniture
Besides the aesthetic value of leather furniture's unique characteristics and
rich sophistication, leather is a great value even though it's at the high end
of the furniture buying spectrum. What makes it such a great value?

1.Durability. Leather furniture lasts about 4 times
longer than cloth covered. It will stain if spills are left unattended, but
spills on leather are easily wiped off.

2.The tough nature of leather allows for rough
housing children and pets on the furniture.

3.As leather furniture ages it acquires a patina, a
soft sheen to the leather from age and use that is desirable and
attractive.
4.Warm in the winter and cool in the summer, leather is furniture for all
seasons.

5.Caring for leather is a breeze. Wipe up spills
with a soft cloth or use manufacturer's recommended products. Because liquid
bubbles up and is wiped off makes leather a great addition to any room.

6.Non-allergenic with an added feature of
stretching to mold to the shape of your body.

Kicking the Tires at the Store
Once you've answered the lifestyle questions, pondered the advantages of buying
leather furniture, and have learned some of the industry jargon, it's time to
take the plunge into the galleries to find the set you've been dreaming of.

1.Take a good look around the showroom. Be sure you
are armed with notebook and pen and jotting down notes as you walk along.

2.Don't forget to check frames. What good is full
grain leather on a weak frame? (See a "Buying Guide to Sofas" for
more information on frames and what to look for)

3.Stand back 3 feet from the furniture. Do you like
what you see? Are there pulls? Is the stitching even and taut?
4.Run your hands over the piece feeling the grain. Is it supple and buttery?

5.It's time to sit in or on the sofa, whichever is
your preferred way of relaxing. How does it feel? Don't forget to lie down for
several minutes.

6.Get the low down on the cushions and any options
you may have. Remove the cushions and take a look at the deck of the sofa or
chair. When pressed, the deck should be firm.

The Sale is in the Details
Now is the time to pick the brain of the leather furniture dealer. Ask
questions. Ask about the type of leather used. Where did it come from? Is it
top grain? Impress with your knowledge. Is it 100% full grain with no splits or
vinyl? Insist on a warranty and walk away if none is offered. Ask about colors
and if you may take swatches home. Inquire about delivery and the cost of
delivering the leather furniture you're buying. Question the sales associate in
respect to return policies if something is amiss upon delivery. After the
barrage of questions have been answered to your complete satisfaction, take all
the information you've gathered home. Think about it, talk about it, sleep on
it. If you just can't stop thinking about the beautiful full grain texture with
unique characteristics and the soft fabulous feel of the luscious leather, you
know you love it. It's time for buying leather furniture. One company that sells top quality leather furniture online is Emfurn.